The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-03-24
PRINUh UONSTANTINES MAJORITY.
Tho Future King of Greece Received
With Enthusiasm by the People
"A Pale, Fat Boy, Shy and
Reserved.

With Enthusiasm by the People
"A Pale, Fat Boy, Shy and
Reserved.
The first sensation was caused by the
arrival of the maids of honor in Greek
dress, a very lovely costume indeed, the
lovlier for Its simplicity of fold and line;
white material. broadly banded on
skirt and jacket with red or blue velvet.
The head-dress was particularly grace
full; white. gauzy stuff arranged hem
wise, with gold coins dropping from a
single band little above the forehead.
The sound of martial music outside
raised expectation on tiptoe, and the
archbishop of Athens, supported by two
bishops with long. black wells, walked
slowly down the carpeted nave, carry
ing candles and the gospel. This was
to meet M. Tricoupis, who kissed the
bible as he entered the church with the
baby prince and his English nurse. An
other flourish of music, and this time
the archbishop went down the church
steps, and tremendous burst of cheers
rose from the outside. The queen, on
the kings arm, came first, her long
train and the princess held by two
mice little boys" in nice little uniforms.
They wore the Greek dress, in which
the queen made very graceful pres
ence. The Greeks consider her hand
some, which she is not, but she looks
eminently sweet and good. Her smile
is most winning and benign, and she is
justly reverenced for her graciousness,
simplicity, and wide-reaching charity.
The little touches of womanly affection
ateness in the anecdotes told of her in
her hospital experiences are really
charming. Beside her the king is by
no means kingly presence. A refined
looking, bald gentleman, in a subdued
military uniform, with touch of sup
pressed frivolity in his gravity, hint
at desire to laugh at the whole pro-
ceedings, balanced by fussy master
of-ceremony anxiety.
The celebrity of the hour, young
Prince Constantine, in infantry uni
form, is sinister-looking, pale, fat
boy, rather shy and reserved 1 should
imagine, and not graceful in his present
aeshy, uniformed state. But high hopes
are entertained of him, and those who
have had opportunities of judging cor
rectly assert that there IS abundant
promise of fulfllment He is an ar
dent and thoughtful student, clever
and conscientious. The Greeks adore
him at present because he is of their
own religion and born in Greece, and
make no effort to conceal the fact that
they regard his unfortunate father as
an incubus, and yearn passionately for
the hour when they can salute their
first genuine Greek king, Constantine
I. After the beautiful singing of the
queens choir the prince gave his cap to
his brother, and, somewhat nervously
and fussly pushed forward by the king,
advanced to take the oath. He held
the flag of Greece in one hand, and
placed the other on the table, and his
voice rang clearly aud steadily through
the church, and he gave the book a
loud bourgeoise kiss that might have
been heard on the steps outside. He
then returned very composedly, kissed
his father, to the great surprise of most
of the foreigners. ignoring his mother,
who was crying, and appeared in no.
wise moved by the single impressive
cheer that greeted HIM.
Outside the scene was beautiful.
Lines of cavalry with magnificent
generals riding up and down. flags and
banners waving. and music sounding.
Indeed there were irresistible echoes
from the circus in the style of music.
an effect considerably heightened by
the jockey appearance of the gentleman
who advanced with the kings horse.
The king being remarkably slight and
agile. when he sprang into the saddle,
the white plumes of his soldiers cap
waving gayly in the sunshine. and
spurred his horse to little gallant
curveting circlewise about the empty
space, the band playing the cheerful,
accentuated music of the circus, the
prince following in the same manner.
was reminded forcibly of mock race
on Hengler's saw-dust. The queen had
already driven away in the sumptuous
carriage made expressly for the occa-
lion. and in twinkling the heir ap-
parent and his father disappeared from
;he bright scene, the king very prettily
Ind gracefully keeping few PAGES be-
hind the celebrity of the hour so as not
20 have the appearance of claiming any
If the honors or the cheers. Yet it can
scarcely have been moment of un-
mixed pleasure for him to see his son,
raw youth of 1S, exciting an enthu-
'iasm he has never excited, enjoying a
prospective popularity he has failed to
obtain; he the king of a people who
openly long to see his son in his place.
1t is not blissful position, that of the
king of Greece. as young Constantine
will probably discover. A more jeal-
GUS, fercely democratic race does not
,xist, and the only family in the coun-
Try that cannot amuse itself and enjoy
the commonest privileges of humanity,
friendship. and social intercourse is the
royal family. Years ago the king pre-
sumed to give a children's ball, and at
once public discussion arose on the
question of royal extravaganza and the
general impropriety of amusing the
poor infant princes. Children's balls
at the palace were discontinued in con-
sequence. As the selection of personal
friends among his subjects, arousing
thereby the jealousy and hatred of those
who were not chosen. was one OF the
causes that led to the unlucky Otho's
overthrow, his successors have wisely
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